Final answer:
The value of real GDP in 2018 likely reflected a mixture of economic growth and inflation, though specific figures for 2018 would be required to give a precise answer. Real GDP appears lower post-2012 if dollars were more valuable in 2012.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the behavior of the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2018. To understand what happened to the value of real GDP in 2018, we can consider several pieces of information. Firstly, the value of real GDP will appear lower in the years after 2012 if dollars were worth more in 2012 than in subsequent years. Additionally, real GDP can fluctuate around the potential GDP, which is an estimate of what the economy could produce at full employment and capacity. Furthermore, real GDP can grow due to actual economic growth or due to inflation. After calculating the impact of inflation, the remainder is the growth in real GDP. For example, between 1980 and 1990, real GDP grew by 39%, but after adjusting for price increases, the growth in real GDP was approximately 43%. Based on this pattern, if the trend continued, we might conclude that the real GDP during 2018 could have increased due to a mix of actual economic growth and inflation.